in october, merrill newman was detained in north korea for reasons unknown. and now in a bizarre taped con infection, he apologized for his actions including killing troops andismians during the korean war. but there's still no word whether he will be set free. some like bill richardson thinks the se sheem is using him as a bargaining chip. >> they want something. i believe they want a high level delegati delegation. in the past they got jimmy carter and president clinton. i used to be the second string and i got a couple out. but in this case, there has to be some kind of an end game. the fact that they have two. the fact that one of them is a war veteran. >> cnn's pentagon correspondent live at the pentagon, barbara starr. my dad was a war veteran. that must have been very painful for him to do? >> swee decision diplomats have been able to visit him and bring in medication for his heart that we are told he needs. but still, of course, carol, his family wants him home. north koreanian state media released video of '85-year-old merrill newman reading a handwr